Wimmer looks to lock up title

After dominating the field for much of the year, Dustin Wimmer can lock up the 2008 AMA National Championship this weekend at the Redbud National in Buchanan, Mich.

The Team MSR/Suzuki/Yoshimura/Pro Taper rider has five wins and three additional podiums in nine races so far this year and needs only to finish second or better in the first of two Pro Motos to clinch the title and earn the AMA No. 1 number plate.

Team Suzuki, as well, may clinch the Manufacturers’ Cup. Suzuki quads have won seven of the 10 races this season.

This weekend’s event is the third base of the $5,000 ITP Tires Grand Slam Presented by QUAD Magazine. The championship within a championship, being held at four of this year’s Showcase Events, offers monetary awards in the Pro Class, as well as special bronze, silver and gold medals in the Amateur Classes.

This weekend’s Showcase will feature the RiderCourse ATV training program, as well as demo rides of the newest ATVs from Can-Am and Yamaha. The Showcase will also include other outdoor-themed displays and other entertainment opportunities for fans.

In addition, the event will feature a Charity Industry Race on Sunday, where mechanics, media members, sponsors and Series staff will compete head to head. All entry fees will be donated to the ATV Mobile Medical Unit.

KTM will unveil its new sport quad during the weekend and you can expect a KTM factory team to compete on the new quad in this series in 2009.

Though Wimmer has all but taken the title, the battle behind him will certainly be fierce. Leading that charge is two-time and defending AMA Champion Joe Byrd. The American Honda/Joe Byrd Racing School rider sits second in points, but is just eight markers ahead of Wimmer’s teammate, Doug Gust.

Gust is coming off of his second win of the season and has proved to be the ‘King of the Rain’ this season, winning two events in damp conditions.

Josh Creamer has carried the banner well for Team Monster Energy Kawasaki, and is itching for his first victory of 2008. Creamer has come close, netting three podiums, including a runner-up finish in the last race.

Team Epic Can-Am’s Jeremy Lawson has come on strong of late with two runner-up finishes. The defending RedBud winner could well be the dark horse here this weekend.

Hometown rider Harold Goodman has also seen glimmers of greatness this season on his American Honda/Houser Racing Honda. Goodman lives just outside Detroit in Romulus, Mich.

Warnert Racing Can-Am’s John Natalie, American Honda/Baldwin Motorsports’ Josh Upperman, Suzuki’s Chad Wienen and privateer Rocco Arno, Jr. round out the top ten in the championship.

Championship Points Leaders:

Related Reading:Gust thrives in the rain